Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the survival and integration of early postnatal retinae transplanted into dystrophic mice with an intrinsic genetic defect as a way of replacing photoreceptors. Methods: Donor mice ages 3-5 days were taken from a strain expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Whole retinae were taken out and gently cut into pieces in Ca2+ and Mg2+-free Hank's solution. Then the retina microaggregrates were transplanted into subretinal space of rhodopsin knockout mice with immunosuppression. After one week or more, animals were perfused; eyes were sectioned for histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: The grafted tissue covered a significant area in the subretinal space, and cell from the graft migrated into the host retina. Some of the donor cells co-expressed neuronal retinal markers such as rhodopsin (for rods), PKC (for rod bipolars), calbindin (for amacrines), RT97 (for ganglion cells and horizontals). A more prominent synaptic layer as revealed by a mouse specific synaptic antibody p84 was seen at the graft-host interface, which contained substantial numbers of donor photoreceptor synapses. Cells injected within the vitreous survived but did not migrate in the host retina. Conclusion: Our results revealed that early postnatal retinae transplanted into dystrophic mice can survive and integrate with host retina. More details of morphological and functional circuit reconstruction between grafted cells and host retina is in progress.
Keywords: 607 transplantation • 480 mutations • 554 retina